SBW to be saved for NRL season opener

Date: February 19 2013

Steve Jancetic

The blockbuster value of the NRL season opener has gone up several notches with the contest to now double as Sonny Bill Williams' much-hyped return to the code.

Williams will go into the season proper without a trial run under his belt after Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed the former All Black was highly unlikely to play in Saturday's final pre-season clash with Wests Tigers.

It was assumed Williams would play at least some part of the Foundation Cup contest - in what would have been his first taste of rugby league since he walked out on Canterbury in 2008.

But as he continues to work his way back from a torn pectoral muscle, that will now have to wait until March 7 at Allianz Stadium for what promises to be a mouth-watering season kick-off.

"He's progressed a lot," Robinson said of Williams' injury.

"When he came back, the pec was right for boxing, now we're trying to prepare it for tackling and wrestling.

"He did his first tackling and contact session today and wrestle this afternoon and he'll go again tomorrow afternoon.

"He's on track.

"... We've programmed around getting him ready for round one."

Williams certainly wasn't shirking any of the hard yakka at training on Tuesday.

During a break from the opposed session, the entire squad was put through a series of 20 metre shuttle runs, with Williams at or near the head of the pack on each occasion.

But despite his obvious enthusiasm to get back on the field, Robinson was resisting the urge to rush Williams' rugby league return.

"I don't feel any pressure at all to play him, my job's to take care of the best interests of the team and Sonny," Robinson said.

"It's great if he did play (against the Tigers) for the crowd, but it's about the Roosters and the Tigers playing - I hope people come out and watch it for that.

"Sonny will be right when he's right."

But while Williams will be a non-starter, fellow new signing Luke O'Donnell is expected to get 20-30 minutes on Saturday night after flying in from England last weekend.

O'Donnell, granted a release by Huddersfield last week, ran by himself at training on Tuesday but will take part in the full session on Wednesday.

Robinson also confirmed ex-Penrith centre Michael Jennings would get continue his acclimatisation to the Roosters with a 60-80 minute stint against the Tigers.

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